NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Bigelow Mountain (West Peak), Bigelow Mountain (Avery Peak), ME
Trails
Trails: Stratton Brook Pond Road, Firewarden's Trail, Appalachian Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Sunday, March 20, 2016
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Stratton Brook Pond Rd. was rutted and icy, so I parked at the start of the unmaintained part of the road and walked to the summer TH. Limited room for cars. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Ice - Blue, Wet/Slippery Rock, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow - Spring Snow, Leaves - Significant/Slippery, Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Light Traction, Traction 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: All bridged or rock hopped. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: No major issues. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Didn't see any, but if you take your furry friends up here, watch them on the steep upper part of the Firewarden's Trail. 
Bugs
Bugs: Not today! 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Finally nabbed these two, and a perfect day to do so! No wind, no clouds, clear skies, cool temps, and views for miles!

The road walk was mostly icy with some dry parts- microspiked it. From the summer TH, I wore spikes to the drop before the bridge, where I put on Hillsound Pros and kept them on until I hit more dry ground. Barebooted a short distance and then put the spikes back on again. From that point on, the trail was covered in frozen granular snow/ice. Traction wasn't an issue until I hit the steep upper part of the FW trail; I wore the Hillsounds from there to West and Avery peaks, and back down most of the way to the pond outlet. Microspiked the road back to the car.

Other than a camper at the pond, I didn't see anyone else the whole time, which was a shocker to me because of how incredibly nice of a day it was. Oh well, more mountain for me!

63 and 64 on the NE67 are down! Three to go!  
Name
Name: Spencer 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2016-03-20 
Link
Link: https://youtu.be/f82TFF_q2vA 
Bookmark and Share Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense.

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